NBA Hall of Fame and former player Jerry West will return as a Clippers consultant, according to a league source. Here, he speaks at an event before a game between the Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 25. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Free agency has yet to begin, but the Clippers are proving to be a desirable destination for the members of their own front office.

After General Manager Michael Winger declined to interview for a promotion in Minnesota and Assistant GM Trent Redden pulled out of the running for a promotion in New Orleans last month, Hall of Famer Jerry West has agreed to return to the Clippers next season in his role as a consultant to the team’s front office, according to a league source who Tuesday confirmed multiple media reports.

That work began with the blockbuster trade of Blake Griffin in 2018. Since then, the Clippers have continued to adjust their roster, dealing leading scorer Tobias Harris in one of their midseason trades last season while acquiring draft picks and young talent and creating potential salary cap room to help target top-tier free agents this summer, such as Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard or Golden State’s Kevin Durant.

Mirjam Swanson covers the Clippers and the NBA for the Southern California News Group. Previously, she wrote about LeBron James and the rest of the Dream Team at the 2004 Olympics (where, yes, they took bronze) and Tiger Woods’ last (for now) major championship. Most recently, she’s covered city government, education and the occasional bear in a backyard.